The Saskatchewan Heart and Stroke Foundation will be hosting an event at the Estevan Shoppers Mall, and conducting a door-to-door fundraising blitz, during Heart Month in February.
A Heart and Stroke Heart Rally will be held at the Estevan Shoppers Mall on Tuesday, January 29, starting at 4 p.m. Heart rallies allow the public to learn more about heart disease and stroke, and for canvassers to pick up their kits and learn tips on how to make their canvassing a success.
Canvassers will also find out how to reduce the risk of heart disease and stroke, thanks to pertinent statistics. And there will be a chance to take part in a family event that focuses on children and family physical activity.
Mall merchants are hosting a walk-a-thon fundraising event called "Warm your Heart – Help us Walk to Cancun." Participants will walk in the mall every weekday morning at 7 a.m. Five laps is equivalent to one mile. The public is invited to participate, and they can pick up pledge forms by contacting the mall.
"We have ramped up the help we can provide to people of all ages, through our online tools that help you asses your personal risk for heart disease and stroke and learn how you can add healthy years to your life by making simple lifestyle changes," says Estevan campaign coordinator Linda Thauberger-Smith.
Residents will canvass neighbourhoods to ask for funds that will support research and education, aimed at giving Canadians longer and healthier lives, she said.
"More than 100,000 volunteers will rally together across Canada to raise life-giving funds," said Thauberger-Smith. "Every donation – whether at the door, online, or through an event – is giving the people you care about a better chance to prevent or beat this disease."
A few more volunteers are still needed to canvass. It takes one to three hours to complete a route. Anyone who is interested is asked to contact the Saskatchewan Heart and Stroke Foundation.
The foundation is also asking Estevan area residents to take personal action that is as simple as cooking a heart-healthy meal, taking a daily walk or living smoke free.
